Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-25
ON RECORD.
COUNTY oovfaxmsNr ouKsrIoS IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
a Heated Debate-The Independents Join
HaEds with the Republicans at
Last other Items.
rsrnr,al ielerram 10 thc pIsratch.l

Especial telegram 10 the Dispatch.l
RALEIGH, N. e., February 24--The
Senate to-day took mp and passed
che House bill TO create a bureau OF
labor statistics. appropriaiing therefor
5000 the first year and $4,000 each
subsequent year. IL next took up and
debated at some length the special
order--the bin to snbmitto thepeople of
the State an amendment 10 the Consti-
tuition increasing the number of JUS
tices Of the Supreme Court from three
10 five. The bill passed on the second
and third readings by q unanimous
vote.
The session of the House was ex-
tremely interesting. Avery great num-
her OF people were present. The reve-
nue. bin was taken up. The Repubh-
cans were thoroughly frightened at their
action yesterday IN reducing the
amount of income exempt from taxa
ton to $500 They were led by York,
and went like flock of sheep for recon-
sideration. Finally the amount OF ex-
emption was fixed at 81 ZOO.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
The event of the day was the spe-
cial order (Pcarson's BILL to change
the system of county government
Pritchard (Republican) offered an
amendment, which Pearson accepted,
that the bond OF commissioner shall
in no case exceed $1,000. Pearson
spoke at length in support of the bill
lie attacked the Democrats for the
maintenance Of the present system OF
county government, and said that
svste m would not be borne long by the
western counties. He said he had
been told that some negro members
would vote against the bill because
they thought il was slap at their race.
He said frankly that the negro was not
yetqualifedto occupy Judicial positions,
and that the Embarrassment OF the
negro all at once was great error.
PARsoNs's SPEECH.
Parsons DemocraD made an admira-
bic speech and criticised Parsons bill,
which he termed a mugwump mea
sure--the work of a political trainer
whose only object was to steer between
the Republican and Democratic par
ties. The reason, he declared, why
Pearson submitted this bill was to find
out how the people stood on the ques-
ton, and then to put himself on the
strongest side.
Pritchard Republican) said that the
Republicans favored the bill simply be-
cause they would rather have half a
20 ~
the people elect both magistrates and
commissioners had been defeated. |
They took this as next the best thing to
be had.
Mr.. Holt made an admirable speech |
attacking the bill. The previous ques-
ton was called on the second reading.
The Democratic amendment to have |
the vote on the question in 1888 was |
lost, the Independents and Republicans
voting sOhdly against it, the Demo
Gratis for it.
EXPLANATIONS.
On the second reading the ayes and |
nays were demanded by the Demo
Gratis. There was considerable expla-
nation of votes. Williamson NEGRO |
Republican, created Il great sensation
by saying that he did not personally !
favor this bill-in fact, he was violently |
opposed to it /; so violently that before |
God he would rather be crucifed |
than vote for it; but he was |
forced to vote for it. The leaders
of his party, York and Pritchard,
had cracked the lash over him, and |
he voted under duress. He therefore !
voted for the bill. His plain statement
was greeted with applause and laughter
on the Democratic side, while the Re
publicans, without any sense of shame at
such disclosures, smiled mt WilliamsOn's
remarks, which revealed concocted
plan of the Republicans and Indepen-
dents. The result of the vote was 81 to
81. So the bill passed. 1t was at once
taken up ON its third reading.
A TEST.
Parsons Democrat offered an
amendment to test Pearson and the IN
dependents and put everybody on re-
cord. This was to include magistrates
in the provisions of the bill. He said
he wished to make the bill even more
odious than it was at first, and see If
Pearson would swallow it. Pearson
did swallow it, and 50 did every other
Independent, save LINDSEY, OF Rock
ingham, who kicked out of the traces
and went with tie Democrats, who
voted solidly against the amendment.
The vote on the amendment was 90 to
4G. The bill passed its third reading
by 80 to 81. The House then adjourned.
Your correspondent at once saw LO-
gan Harris, acting chairman of the Re-
publican party. In reply to question
he said, smilingly; "Yes, by to-day's
actions and votes the Independents
have at last joined their forces with the
Republicans, and all are now in the
same boat"
The cOunty-governmentq question now
comes up as the chief party issue,
straight and square, with only two par
ties. The Independents were to-day,
like the Republicans, wild to get up
this hill of Pearson's, and displaced the
most important revenue bill in order
that they might take it up. The Dem
ocrats are delighted at the way the In
dependents and Republicans have put
themselves on record.
THE CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT.
A canvass of the Senate and House
shows that as regards the matter of the
next President Of these United States
the Democrats are greatly divided.
Some favor Cleveland and some Hill,
of New York. Speaker Webster favors
Randall. Cleveland is not, nearly so
general a choice as would perhaps be
imagined. On the Republican side the
members are in the main favorable to
Blaine; in fact, the great majority
choose him. A very large number of
Democrats have not made up their
minds who they DO favor, and frankly
say they do not know.
THE FENCE-LAw QUESTION.
An omnibus bill is in few days, per-
baps tomorrow, to be presented in the
House covering the fence-law question
in several counties. In some cases the
matter is to be left to popular vote. In
yesterdays spocialit was stated that the
opposition TO the no-fence laws came as
rule from unprogressiye men, and that
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